Finds that directors agree that journalism attracts its share of talented students and disagree that the writing skills of high school journalism students are declining. Finds also that more than 60% agree that schools in their states treated journalism courses as extracurricular activities and that low starting salaries diminish student interest…

Surveys departmental members of the Speech Communication Association. Discusses (1) the nature, prevalence, and satisfaction with strategic planning in their academic units; and (2) the issues and goals facing the departments. (SR)

Surveyed a national sample (n=3135) of adults to examine the structure of agrarianism among the U.S. public and its relationship to U.S. values. Identified four tenets of agrarianism: family farm; agrarian fundamentalism; yeomanship (economic independence); and farm lifestyle. Each of the first three dimensions expressed a different social ethic…

Surveys 308 television news directors. Finds that 83.4% of respondents would like some formal management training if they could afford the time. Discusses three fundamental elements that should be included in such graduate programs for midcareer professionals. (SR)

Examined role of social isolation in greater incidence of aggression in cohabiting couples than married persons using national survey data from 13,017 respondents. Claims these factors are related to cohabitors' aggression: they are likely to be youthful and black; lack social control associated with participation in organizations; and tend to…

This paper reports findings from a survey of state directors of special education (N=38) that focused on current practices in providing related services to handicapped students, with an emphasis on eligibility criteria. Results indicated great variation among states. (Author)

Federal data on student-loan defaults in colleges, universities, and vocational-technical schools include number and proportion of borrowers in default on Stafford Loans and Supplemental Loans in fiscal 1988 and 1989. The data are used to exclude high-default institutions from federal programs. Dollar amounts of loans defaulted are not presented.…

The theory of foster-adoptive programs is explained and analyzed. The term "flexible family resource" describes the acceptance by trained families of children who have not yet had parental rights terminated, and thus may return to their biological parents at some time. Although this idea is promising, further research is indicated. (DG)

Surveys farm magazine writers and editors regarding advertiser pressure and their attitudes toward it. Finds that 62 percent report receiving pressures from advertisers, whereas about half said that advertising had been withdrawn on occasion. Finds that about half reported that keeping distance from advertisers is a challenge. (SR)

The concept of information functions developed for dichotomous item response models is adapted for the partial credit model, and the information function is used to investigate collapsing and recoding categories of polytomously scored items from the National Assessment of Educational Progress. (SLD)

Responses from 2,121 of 3,200 professionals employed in aging indicated they used substantial aging-specific knowledge in the areas of health, program planning and policy, and services. All 14 knowledge items were used daily by 30%; some were used by as many as 70-80%. (SK)

Drawing on three leading theories of crime/deviance, a model is developed and tested to explain individual variation in the approval of suicide. Data from a national survey are used to test predictions. Predictions are partially supported. Strongest correlates of suicide approval are education, political liberalism, and certain religious…

Presents some evidence bearing on the issue of national standards for education. Reviews evidence from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Notes some improvements even in the absence of national standards. (SLD)

Study compared rates of violent victimization of youth aged 12 to 17 to that of adults, using the National Crime Victimization Survey. Results showed that juveniles were more likely than adults to be victims of violent crime and suffer from a crime-related injury. Disparities were present for males and females, Whites and Blacks, and persons from…

A survey of 53 deans of U.S. dental schools examined: gender and ethnicity; degrees and certificates; primary discipline; age; length of time as dean; academic rank and tenure; time distribution; other responsibilities; lines of authority; job satisfaction; career paths prior to becoming dean; knowledge, skills, and experience considered essential…